Tootoo signing represents change in philosophy for Wings

Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland admitted that a change in philosophy was behind Sunday’s move to sign agitating former Nashville Predators forward Jordin Tootoo to a three-year US $5.7-million contract. “We played against Nashville, we know him,” Holland said of Tootoo. “He’s physical, he gets under the skin of our players. It’s an ingredient we’ve always talked about. We wanted to get some physical play into our game and we signed Jordin Tootoo. We think he’ll provide an element of an edge to our team in the bottom six (forwards).”

Always a team which first put the emphasis on skill, the Wings made early playoff exits in each of the past three springs, and this past season, as the playoffs wore on, it became painfully evident that Detroit’s style of play wasn’t going to work anymore in the biggest games of the season. The Wings also upped their physical size with their other forward move, adding former Wing Mikael Samuelsson, who will basically replace the role of diminutive Jiri Hudler on the roster. Hudler in generously listed as standing 5-10, which isn’t true, while Samuelsson tips out at 6-2.

We know him,” Holland said of Samuelsson, a Wing from 2005-09. “We like him. He can skate. He’s got some range. He can play the right point on the power play. He’s got a shot. We’ve had him and he played well for us.”

As for Tootoo, he’ll bring the kind of hard to play against element to Detroit that’s been lacking for some time. “I’ve really grown as a player over the last couple of years,” Tootoo said. “My foundation is being a physical presence but at the same time I know I can contribute offensively. I’ve proven that over the last couple of years, but at the same time, I still have a lot to work on.”

Tootoo, who is good friends with Red Wings centre Darren Helm, insisted the Detroit offer came completely out of the blue, but he jumped at the chance when it was offered. “This was a time of new beginnings for me and I feel after what’s gone on in the last couple of years, I need a change,” Tootoo said. “Fortunately, the Red Wings caught my attention and I’m glad to be a part of it.”

Holland admitted that Sunday’s signing and the continued pursuit of defenceman Ryan Suter and left-winger Zach Parise almost assuredly mean that Hudler and Tomas Holmstrom are no longer part of the picture in Detroit. Detroit has approximately $18 million in cap space remaining, but also must sign restricted free agents Justin Abdelkader and Kyle Quincey.

“Obviously we’re probably not going to do anything more until we know what’s going on with those two big guys,” Holland said. “We’re sort of sitting on a cap situation where if they want to come to us, we can’t keep adding. In order to have a possibility of being involved in deals for Suter or Parise, if we lose some people we lose some people.”

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